Seba Avenue Skate Park is expanding again.Parks recently held a meeting at Councilman Lew Fidlers office with George Broadhead of the Property Owners and John Douglas of GBCares. They were invited to see the new plans and offer their input.
We will be getting a new general asphalt field on the right side of the park more toward Lois. The new asphalt MAY end up being used for roller hockey WITH nets. That’s a huge maybe right now. This won’t be started until Spring of 2012.
Here is where we are now.
Right now as we speak – a Parks contractor is building the comfort station. Then after that is completed Parks is going to expanded the Tot Lot with sprinklers. This is nothing new.
As for the existing Asphalt which is the middle ground for the Skate Park and Tot lot – that will be replaced with swings: 8 Child 8 Young 1 Handicap. Project completion date: Fall of 2012
GerritsenBeach.net Epic Time-line
September 2006 – Construction Begins
October 2006 Groundbreaking Ceremony
June 2007 - Equipment Installed
July 2007 - Skate Park Being used by Kids
August 2007 - Park fences repaired
November 2007 - Seba Park Open
February 2008 - 12 Trees snapped. One Bench removed.
March 2008 - Comfort Station Announced
June 2008 - Trees replaced
July 2008 - Seba Avenue Park covered in graffiti.
August 2008 - graffiti cleaned up.
February 2009 - Drug problem at park peaks.
February 2009 - NYPD narcotics crack down.
March 2009 - Fire Destroys part of park
April 2009 - Repairs started
October 2009 - Sprinklers announced
December 2009 - 20 Benches stolen
December 2009 - Benches found. Newspapers call it biased incident.
January 2010 - Plans for phase II shown Swings announced.
February 2010 - Crackdown on vandalism. Fidler pushes for arrests.
March 2010 - Benches repaired or reinstalled.
May 2010 - Comfort Station construction begins
July 2010 - “Gun” used by outside kids to intimidate locals. Was a BB Gun
September 2010 - New Asphalt Expansion announced. Swings replaned.
The almighty we call The Google has updated their satellite imagery for our area. These photos were only taken within a few weeks – do you notice the construction fence for the comfort area?
The Seba Avenue Park Comfort Station aka Bathrooms construction is underway. This week there is a HUGE square hole that was excavated. Under the soil layer is nothing but sand.
There have been numerous reports floating around the comments here and Facebook about an incident yesterday in Seba Avenue Park.
The incident was that either one or multiple kids from out of the beach tried to intimidate a Beach kid out of his cell phone and there may or may not have been a weapon flashed.
That’s all the information we have at this time. We welcome you to update us all in the comment below. We will update you as we try and get more information.
All of the removed Seba Avenue Park benches that were being removed off their bases have FINALLY been secured. A couple of weeks ago a contractor came in and secured the benches with new bolts and actual cement.
Ladies and gentlemen and boys and girls of Gerritsen Beach,
All of theSeba Avenue Park vandalism has touched a nerve with our community and especially our councilman who is responsible for the funding to build our park.
On Monday, there was a major meeting convined at Lew Fidler request at his office with: Brooklyn South, the 61st and 63rd Precinct’s, the GB Property Owners and GBCares. During that meeting battle plans were drawn up discussed on what kind of enforcement by the police would be taken.
In short, there will be arrests with possible jail sentences, and criminal court summonses for anyone caught in the park after dusk, vandalizing, dealing, etc. More importantly, the police may be bringing in kids for interrogations, to lead to an arrest for the fires, vandalism, etc.
Here is what was read at the last property owners meeting a letter from Lew Fidler:
On Monday, together with your President, John Douglas as President of GB Cares, and with representatives of all our elected officials (Assemblyman Maisel, Senator Golden,. Congressman Weiner), and our Community Board (Terri Scavo) I convened a meeting with the NYPD Both the 61st and 63rd Precincts were represented by their Commanding officers, DI Cangiarella and Captain Mastrokostas. Brooklyn South was represented by Lt. Jimmy Woods. The Parks Department was represented by both outgoing Parks District Manager Alex Mezzatesta, and incoming District Manager Larry Major.
We made it crystal clear to the police officials present that the culture that allows vandalism to this community’s packs must be changed, and changed measurably before
more of our tax dollars are poured into improving our park. Clearly, the mere fact that we had asked for this meeting rattled a few cages. Both precincts reported stepped up efforts and patrols along Gerritsen, including the issuance of 4 summonses by the 63rd for people being in the park when they shouldn’t have been. George confirmed this, having spoken to two of the youngsters who got the summonses.
I indicated that the proof will be in the pudding…that we as a community expect results. And let me be clear; by results I mean arrests and possible jail sentences…. or a long term period when there is no vandalism. No park benches destroyed. No fires in our skate packs. No arson in the weeds. No bus shelters being smashed in for sport.
All agreed that a cooperative short must be launched with the community and the police. NYPD agreed to send Community Affairs officers to the schools, and to GB’s faternal organizations like the Knights and the Cort Club to get the message out and to increase presence. All agreed to cooperate in that effort
As always, time will tell. Results will or will not speak for themselves. I do have the assurance from Chief Fox that if this doesn’t work and more needs to be done, it will be
done. I remind each and ecery one of you: whether or not you personally use this park or not, it IS your tax money.
I think Gerritsen Beach is entitled to a first class park for use by and for the Gerritsen Beach community For the past 8 years, I have dedicated time and resources to get this accomplished. I know that together we can make this happen.
The Gerritsen Beach Property Owners, took the position of  ”in no way are you going to arrest our kids”. Which was sorta echoed by the police at the meeting who said something to the effect of “Gerritsen Beach is a tight knit community and there is no way they are going to give up there own”. (I don’t know if I should be proud or embarrassed by that statement.)
The position that the GBPOA is taking is the right one, and they are taking action instead of sitting back. They are going to spread the word that the shenagians at the park are no longer tolerated and to at least warn our kids. At the same time, they are organizing kids events at Kiddie Beach, and talking with local businesses to arrange other kids nights, to “start getting them off the streets”.
Lew Fidler is also in the right. It’s his job responsibility to make sure the police are doing their jobs in his communities and to make sure the money he is brining in to build Seba Park isn’t going to literally “burn up“. The threat of arrest’s, if they happen, are also just. That park has had a bad year, and when you couple that with bus shelters – those two are our community’s major quality of life issues and it’s been that way for years and it needs to end.
Spread the word, use the park as it’s intended, and don’t be in there at night.
For the Parks Department to come out and condemn Gerritsen Beach for vandalizing park benches with three foot swastikas. Then to say to the community that the benches are expensive, and that they will have picked them all up.
Is outright wrong because they are still there!!
We feel as though we are beating a dead horse with this story.
In what may be the best example of the Squeakiest Wheel Getting the Oil, we may be getting as many as 16 swings at Seba Avenue Park.
At the most recent property owners meeting, Councilman Lew Fidler presented the NYC Parks Design team responsible for the future expansion of Seba Avenue Park. The team outlined their expansion plans. Although The community was impressed with their plans, they responded with their desire for swings. After all it’s been a main request at the park for some time now.
As it turns out, that after the Property Owners meeting Lew Fidler spoke with the Parks Design team requesting them to add swings. He asked them to add as many as 16 swings. When we asked the Councilman’s office if this was too good to be true they saidif the councilman is on it it will get done.
Gerritsen Beach is seriously angry and residents are not going to take it any more. In the works is what I am calling an “all out offensive” against the vandals who are dismantling in OUR park.
To stop this vandalism “once and for all”, Councilman Lew Fidler is bringing together the 61st, the 63rd and Brooklyn South to combat the vandalism at Seba Avenue Park.
The Councilman is calling upon residents of Gerritsen Beach to be as angry and upset at “local children” as he is and take action. He is asking residents to figure out a way to stop the vandalism at Seba Avenue Park. Which will all be discussed ASAP.
He cited that one of the major problems is the dividing line of the 61st and 63rd precincts.
Here is the thing (vandals should take close note of what is saying). We are a small community and people with positions within the community ALREADY KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Now a city councilman is bringing together three precincts because of the fires, broken trees, benches, carved swastikas that YOU caused. At this point it may already be too late for some of you the rest can head this warning: NO MORE DESTROYING THE PARK and make sure no one else is going to.
There are going to be no more warnings, it sounds like lots of summonses and arrests with a massive show of force.
At the January meeting of the Gerritsen Beach Property Owners, at the request of the 4 million dollar man Councilman Lew Fidler, Brooklyn Parks Chief of Staff Martin Maher along with the Seba Avenue Park design team, came to present their plans for the expansion of Seba Avenue Park.
The expansions main underlying theme/focus is on nature and water.
In total, 5 additional areas are being added to the left of existing Seba Avenue Park. Two spray shower areas, two new playground areas and the comfort station.
The water areas are designed with 20 bent-pipe like objects, 6 of which will spray water. The spray water will be on a day/night timer and also be push button activated.
According to the architect We are getting all higher-end materials for this project including: the piping, blue stone pavement, colored and textured concrete pavement, benches, etc.
The expanded area will still be surrounded by a three foot fence exactly like the existing fencing.
The Comfort Station of Seba Avenue Park will begin in the spring and construction will last from nine months to a year.
Click for Larger
Here is the rundown.
It’s the swings stupid! The community has been asking for swings for a long time now. A really long time. All parents really want are swings for their slightly older kids not the TWO baby swings that are there. However, by design tot playgrounds are just meant for tots and NYC Parks cannot think design outside of those guidelines.
As for adding swings themselves parks did explained: that swings in require space -Â a lot of space – as per their safety requirements. Although they said they were UNAWARE of the community wanting swings, they said they are putting in as much climbing and playground equipment as they can with the real estate available.
GerritsenBeach.net is gravely concerned for what this will do to the Gerritsen Beach Little League and what this projects long term effects are for the neighborhood. I’m not talking about inconvenience during construction. I’m talking about Larry Veiling field being used for other means by a significant amount of people.
The Design Team:
Mike Lavery Deputy Director of Capital Projects Of Brooklyn
David Martin Chiefs of Design and Construction in Brooklyn
Paul Kinnaskas (guessed spelling) Architecht
Might as well start off the first post of 2010 with the 2010 Seba Avenue Park benches! They are still back weeds! There is no reason why Parks could not go and pick them up to secure them to their rightful place or bring them back for repairs.
The benches that are in the park already have been all secured by chains to the fences.
Why did the NYC Parks Department, the Post and Parks Manager Alex Mezzatesta exaggerate a non-situation in Gerritsen Beach?
This was going to be a post straight up about how the missing benches that were uprooted were found. GerritsenBeach.net got word early last week that they were located but due to inclimate weather we had not gotten a chance to get up there to confirm and take some pictures. Shortly thereafter Parks manager Alex Mezzatesta located them and spread the word that he found a “3 foot by 3 foot” swastika on a bench. Sparking the NY Post to put up yet another GB bias incident in their blotter. Here is what they said:
Police are investigating a possible bias incident in which a swastika was scrawled on a park bench in Gerritsen Beach.
A city Parks Department supervisor spotted the 3-foot by 3-foot swastika drawn with black marker on the bench at Seba and Gerritsen avenues at about 11:45 a.m. last Tuesday.
Shenanigans! After now two trips to these missing benches and looking at all of the benches in the park it is apparent that there is currently no and never was a 3 foot square swastika is anywhere. Where would you even fit a 3 foot swastika!?
However, to be fair there was a 2-inch swastika on a single plank of one bench. It must of shrunk in the cold (Zing!). If you think about who is taking these benches and what they are being used for. You are talking about an adolescent group. Do you really think that age group has any idea what that symbol means or represents? Of course not. They don’t even really understand 9-11.
What the REAL story is… That the benches were taken from their locations and used as benches for “parties” in clearings in the weeds. The typical jungle juice/keg parties that have been around since the year of the flood.
We are as appalled by the the thought a of a swastika regardless of size but to exaggerate the size for whatever purpose is wrong. Why would the parks department feel its necessary to exaggerate the size. You decide!
Gerritsen Beach is not going to take this sitting down! Why? Because all of the benches are gone!
20 benches, that’s right twenty! have either been uprooted or have gone missing from the tot-lot at Seba Avenue park. 15 Have been uprooted from the brick/cement base and 5 have gone complety missing. GBCares president John Douglas, who spoke with parks, recently said “kids were rocking the benches back and forth which ultimately loosened the bolts from the bricks”.
To be perfectly fair, most of the the other tot-lot playground equipment has also been destroyed or defaced.
Parks is aware of the issue and they are going to take the benches away until they could find a better way to secure them.
Seba Avenue Park as it is now is the Skatepark, the general use asphalt field, and the tot playground. However, the park is not complete there are plans for a “Phase II” which was mainly a comfort station (bathrooms). Phase II and the comfort station was always part of the design and funding from the begining.
Recently, Lew Fidlers office held a meeting with GBCares and the Property Owners to discuss Phase II. (GB Little League and the RCSMP could not attend)
Here are the details of the comfort station
The comfort station building will be open year round.
It will be in 3 sections- as you face it- men on the left, Parks area (office, mechanicals and storage) in the middle and women on the right. Mens’ section will have one stall and 2 urinals. Women’s section will have 2 stalls.
There will be a Parks staff person on site, and the building will be open only when staff is present. Restroom areas will have self-closing door, exterior will be lit. Skylights will be over restrooms, but not over the Parks area (to discourage break-in).
There will be two drinking fountains on the Gerritsen Ave side of the building. Construction to start in November and run for 9 months.
Surprisingly! Phase II now includes a water park. I have no idea where this came from and have very little details. I’m assuming sprinklers.
The water park, should begin in Spring ’10 and run for about a year.
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